N-tests claims attempt to underplay S&T achievements: Chavan

New Delhi, Aug 28 (PTI) Remarks of a former defence
scientist about the efficacy of Pokhran-II nuclear tests was
an attempt to underplay the achievements of science and
technology sector of the country, India Minister of State in
PMO Prithviraj Chavan said Friday.

Former senior Defence Research and Development
Organisation (DRDO) scientist K Santhanam, who was involved in
the 1998 nuclear tests, created a controversy by claiming that
Pokhran-II had not met the desired objectives.
"It (the claim) is completely wrong. It is an attempt to
underplay the achievements of the technology and science of
the nation," Chavan told reporters here.

He said government and the scientific community has
already rubbished the statement of the former defence
scientist and there was no need to comment any further.

Former India President A P J Abdul Kalam, who was the
DRDO chief during the nuclear tests, had said that the "design
yield of the thermo-nuclear test had been obtained."
R Chidambaram, who was the Chairman of the Atomic Energy
Commission in 1998, had dubbed Santhanam's suggestion as
"absurd". "There is no controversy over the yield of
Pokhran-II nuclear tests. The claims are absurd," Chidambaram,
the current Principal Scientific Adviser to the Union
Government, said.

Santhanam's version was also contested by Brajesh Mishra,
National Security Advisor in the Vajpayee government. PTI SKU
DDC


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